Abstract

Friday, May 10, 2019

Too many genes

After I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
in 2015, I was puzzled.The year before
I had been doing research for a writing project about my forebears in the
Northwest. Here is what I learned. With the exception of my grandfather, who
died in a logging accident in 1940, there was no smoking gun among my
grandparents. I hadn’t learned yet that Alzheimer’s can be caused by
environmental causes. My dad was a commercial fisherman. One theory of mine is
that as a small boy, I often accompanied my dad to his web shed, where toxic
fluids were kept in the harbor. That was my theory.But that was irrelevant.

But Randy Garten and Mary Bessmer
don’t need evidence at all. The couple’s tree is riddled with cases of
Alzheimer’s, going back to the era when people rarely called it “Alzheimer’s.”
One euphuism was “hardening of the arteries,” as it wasa concern of the heart and lungs. As Mary put
it: “I couldn’t stand Randy’s dad in hisfinalmonths. And he said, “Randy will have it too.” Sadly, Randy’s dad was
clairvoyant, despite his Alzheimer’s. Randy did had Alzheimer’s: Randy himself
was diagnosed in 2016: Randy left his job from his longtime position in the
state Health and Human Service Department, working under Alice Bonner in the state
administration of Charlie Baker.

For families like Randy’s and
Mary’s, it can be difficult to unravel to understand the relationships. After
all, genealogy can span beyond a century or more. Who was “Big Al?” Did his
name suit him?And what about Maurice? Might

that name still in currency? But what about the stigma? Over
the last two decades, there have been leaps and bounds in understanding this
disease. But when a young adult learns that he or she is likely to end up with
Alzheimer’s in middle age: That could stress the parent-child relation in a
very big way.

Of course, it’s possible that
Alzhiemer’s will find a cure will find in the generation of Randy’s and Mary’s
kids benefit in a huge way. Are you
skeptical? Overthe last 18 months,
there was serious hype about ending Alzheimer’s. And if you are of those one
those adults whose families has the APOE4 gene. Don’t become fatalistic. Money
speaks. And one of these years, there will be a sea-change.

The Mediterrean
Diet is not some fad. The evidence is
in. And it does have its drawbacks. Many
people can’tthe taste can’t abide, even
when herbs like rosemary or thyme. And, if you are fairly heathy, walking is a
simple way to improve one’s mood. Just
remember, if you are walking on your own, you better be familiar with the
route. Cellphones can literally save lives, but if you don’t charge your phone battery,you can end up like I did: Having my college-age
son bail me out. The result would have been impoundment in the nation’s
capital. How priceless would havethat have been?